Over the course of 2018, I had a lot of great meals in the Triangle! Writing a food blog means I’m usually chasing down what’s new and what’s recently opened up for my best new restaurants of the year list. Looking back, I can say that it was a good year if not great (My Best New Restaurants of 2017 list is here). There seemed to be more quick-casual and more small, chain type restaurants but what can you do? We’ve had a good run of new restaurants in the Triangle and my guess is that things may be slowing down after several VERY busy years in the area.

But that’s not to say there weren’t some pleasant surprises for me! Restaurant openings continued through the end of the year resulting in some last minute changes on my ToEat list. It still took a lot for me to cut down a long list of contenders. But here you go, my Best New Restaurants and Bars of 2018!

Click on the restaurant name for a full review with details (if one is available)

When it comes to burgers in Chapel Hill, people usually think about Al’s Burger Shack but I think Hops Burger Bar is doing some seriously good beef! Based out of Greensboro, Hops Burger Bar brings fantastic craft beer along with creative, gourmet burgers. Their smallest burger starts at 6 oz. but beyond the heft of the burger, the quality is also there in the meat, toppings and bun. Love their weekly specials and interesting sides, do not miss Hops Burger Bar if you find yourself on Franklin Street sometime soon!

Hutchins Garage opened up quietly during the summer and you could tell from the get-go, the owners knew EXACTLY what they were doing. From the cool and hip, industrial interior design to the fantastic, thin-crust pizzas, Hutchins was rockin’ things out from the start. Don’t miss their fantastically crunchy Grandma pie, delectable margherita pizza or well-curated beer list. Another great dining option in Durham’s Warehouse District and affordable to boot. A pit-stop at Hutchins Garage is always a great idea in my book!

When it comes to Japanese food in Durham, look no further then Chef Mike Lee. His newest restaurant entry, M Tempura, is a foray into uncharted territory for the Triangle: a classic Japanese tempura restaurant. Fresh produce and proteins are battered and quickly deep-fried for your dining pleasure, a simple but fantastic preparation. It’s a luxurious dinner experience but Chef Mike has also added a simpler lunch service focused on katsu and sandwiches. Expect more and better from the new M Tempura in 2019, M Restaurants has had a great track record over the years!

Given that Raleigh waited over a year for the delayed Morgan Street Food Hall, you know for sure that we were ready for its opening in the summer of 2018! And thankfully, it did not disappoint when it finally did open, offering an array of very good eating options under one roof! Love CowBar Burger, Cousins of Maine Lobster, Sassool Mediterranean and Carroll’s Kitchen and now can enjoy them with a beer or glass of vino from the central bar. Add in the large covered patio and you’ve got yourself a great, new dining option full of mouth-watering choices in downtown Raleigh!

Front of Pizza La Stella Cary

Margherita pie at Pizza La Stella

Meatball app at Pizza La Stella

Best of 2018 – Pizza La Stella, Cary – Opened October 2018

One of my bigger surprises for the year is the new Pizza La Stella in Cary. While I was familiar with the original Pizza La Stella in Raleigh, a new chef and new attitude was infused into the new Cary location. A menu of simpler items that are more authentic seems to be the mantra now. Nosh on a light Neapolitan pizza with a tender crust or some rich tomato-seared meatballs in an iron skillet, Pizza La Stella is bringing the I into Italian food for me! Along with a muted but stylish decor, I’m feeling that Pizza La Stella Cary is in for a good run at this busy location off Kildaire Farms Road.

Given that Seoul 116 replaced one of my favorite restaurants (more) in 2018, I had some concerns about what this restaurant would be. But I’ll tell you what, Seoul 116 has totally won me over. With a menu of eclectic and modern Korean small plates, I’ve always had great meals here along with excellent service. Try the bulkogi or spicy pork sliders along with the Korean Fried Chicken and truffle corn with cheese. Paired with a glowing Capri Sun cocktail, Seoul 116 goes for an inventive and creative take on Asian eats! And for that, I am thankful for in 2018.

As the cocktail craze continues in the Triangle, it was only a matter of time before it hit Cary! And SideBar has really amped up expectations in downtown Cary with an amazing combination of ambiance, service and superb cocktails. Co-owner Matthew Bettinger (previously at C. Grace in Raleigh) has brought his mixology skills to a sophisticated bar that combines speak-easy sensibilities in a more modern and bright location. I don’t often make special trips to visit Cary but when I do, SideBar is usually in the mix for Sunday Funday!

Sushi bar at Sushi Mon

Oysters at Sushi Mon

Sea bream nigiri at Sushi Mon

Best of 2018 – Sushi Mon, Raleigh – Opened December 2018

A late edition to my best of 2018 list, I was blown away by the sleek decor and excellent sushi served up at this inconspicuous Hillsborough Street location. North Carolina sourced wood tables, polished granite wall installation and a live moss wall hanging make for a beautiful and wonderfully designed space to enjoy your dinner. But it all would not work out without the exceptional talent of Chef Tom offering up fresh fish on Sushi Mon’s nigiri along with some creative toppings. Love the delicious simplicity of the space and menu, don’t miss out on Sushi Mon if you’re a fan of Japanese eats in Raleigh!

Over on Wilmington Street, you’ll find the wonderful Tonbo Ramen! Built with a classic ramen house design, you’ll find them ladling out large bowls of steaming ramen downstairs while the upstairs offers up Japanese small plates (and ramen) in a sexier setting. I prefer eating upstairs where you can choose from tonkotsu ramen, mazemen (dry ramen), chicken karaage and shrimp buns. The food at Tonbo is always flavorful and affordable which makes it a hidden gem in my mind. There may be other spots for ramen, but not many doing it as well as Tonbo.

Last up on my best of 2018 list is Vita Vite Midtown over in North Hills! I love the design and space at this very modern wine bar and I think it takes the appeal of the original Vita Vite but broadens it to a wider audience. With two bars, stellar interior design and art, wrap-around views and a nice outdoor patio, Vita Vite Midtown is a wonderful spot for a date, glass of wine with friends or girls night out!

As it is every year, it was so hard to cut this Best of 2018 list down to ten finalists. So honorable mentions go out to Cha House in Chapel Hill; COPA, Cucciolo Osteria and the Wine Feed in Durham along with Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh. While I thought this year’s list was a bit Raleigh-heavy, I’m hoping we get more from the Bull City in 2019; Boxcar Bar and Arcade is a great start! I’m also looking forward to Transfer Co. Food Hall filling out its vendor list along with great barbeque from Sam Jones in Raleigh, Kingfisher Lounge in Durham and the Cat Tales Cat Cafe in Chapel Hill. Keep up with the latest and greatest at my web pages below. I hope you enjoyed my best new restaurants and bars list for 2018 and I hope you’re as excited as I am about what 2019 will bring to the Triangle!

Over on Glenwood South, a neighborhood better know for beer and dance clubs, we’ve seen a surge in new Asian eateries over the past couple of years! From Pho Pho Pho to Seoul 116 and now Anise Pho! Brought to you by restauranteur John Tang (owner of Sushi O), Anise Pho was moved from North Raleigh to a restaurant spot that used to be China O. And after a couple of visits, I can say that this eatery is doing a lot of things right for Vietnamese food fans!

Bar at Anise Pho, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Located right next to popular sister restaurant, Sushi O, Anise Pho sits in a convenient spot underneath the 222 Glenwood condos. Just mind the street parking on Glenwood, you may have to feed a meter unless you park on a side street. Inside Anise Pho, you’ll find a lovely centerpiece bar with a bamboo overlay and glow lighting underneath. The smallish dining room wraps around the bar so it’s a slightly cozy space. I grab a menu and start poking around excitedly. Anise Pho offers up your traditional Vietnamese classic in a shortened menu. It’s a functional menu with lots of picture but doesn’t have a ton of details if you’re not familiar with Vietnamese food. You’ll find summer rolls, noodles (bun), rice (com) and of course the ubiquitous soup (pho) available at Anise Pho. The lunch specials at Anise Pho is $9.99 for a pho and soft drink.

I’ve had a chance to dine at Anise Pho several times and have had a chance to get the menu pretty well I go with my fave order of summer rolls (grilled beef) along with a brisket pho! The summer rolls at Anise Pho are delicious and huge! A wonderful Vietnamese starter, summer rolls are served cold and consist of rice noodles, lettuce, basil, mint, shredded carrots along with a protein (often pork or shrimp). Anise Pho spins things up a bit by offering grilled beef with their summer rolls and it’s fantastic. The beef really stands out and these rolls are very substantial, probably best shared. The peanut dipping sauce offered with the rolls is also very well done and served in a generous portion.

Brisket pho at Anise Pho, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But of course, how can you got to Anise Pho without trying their namesake dish? The lunch bowl of pho is a large bowl of broth, noodles and meat. A smattering of thin-cut onions and scallions sit on top, completing the dish. I always recommend trying out the pho broth before adding any condiments (jalapeno, lime, thai basil) and the broth at Anise Pho is good. A bit lighter but with the proper essence of cinnamon, anise and other spices that pho is known for. The brisket are nice thick cuts of beef with fat cap on top, a good pho for someone’s who’s trying it for the first time. Other options include beef shank, meatballs and tendons which might be a bit much for a first-timer. With the weather turning colder, I can definitely see myself coming back here, soon.

In some additional visits I get to try out their grilled pork rice plate (com) which is served with a bowl for warm broth, a nice touch. It’s a decent meal but flavored and spiced a bit differently then I’m used to but still tasty. The pork banh mi is perfectly toasted and served on a soft, white hoagie roll. It’s stuffed with a decent amount of pork, shredded carrot, cucumber and jalapeno, a very good sandwich.

Grilled pork banh mi at Anise Pho, Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Anise Pho offers up full table service and don’t forget about that great sidewalk patio! From a service perspective, they do a nice job here, the staff seems really well trained. So when everything is said and done, I”m really happy with Anise Pho. Didn’t have much expectations but I think they offer a more authentic Vietnamese cuisine experience than any other options ITB Raleigh. Not quite as good as say, Mekong in Morrisville but above average. Which is much appreciated because sometimes you just have to have some summer rolls and pho to satisfy your cravings! And Anise Pho delivers great Vietnamese food right here in downtown Raleigh.

Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

As a fan of the culinary arts scene in the Triangle, I’m always on the lookout for cool, food events and special dinners. While it’s always great to go out and eat, it’s even better when you’re talking about a one-off specialty dinner. A recent invite to Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts hit my email inbox and I was pretty excited! Any event that ties in modern art with culinary art is a winner in my book. This edition of Feast from the Furnace would be led by Chef Tyler Vanderzee from NanaSteak. But my big question is: How can you cook a meal in a super-hot glass blowing furnace?! Well, I was about to find out…

If you haven’t spent much time in Durham, it might be a bit tricky to find Liberty Arts! Located on Pearl Street on the E. Durham side of things, Liberty Arts is a bit off the beaten path and in a lot surrounded by a bit of fencing and barbed wire. But don’t let that look scare you because you’re going to find some amazing things behind that steel, sliding door! Inside, I meet Liberty Arts board member Ilene Hadler who has extended me the invite to tonight’s dinner. We grab a glass of wine at the open bar and then we go on a tour of the Liberty Arts collective and space which is really impressive.

Touring Liberty Arts in Durham with Ilene – nctriangledining.comHappy diners at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I’ve spent a lot of time in the Raleigh arts community but Liberty Arts certainly takes it to another level! This collective of a dozen artists and creators cover a broad swath of eclectic mediums. The artists at Liberty Arts hand-make everything from metal masks, woodwork, typography, smoking pipes and more. During the Feast from the Furnace dinner, guests are encouraged to wander around and explore the workshops of each artist. There’s also a store up front offering up a variety of pieces to the public. We head on back to the dining room area where the guests are assembling with glasses of wine and beer in hand.

Leigh and Aubrey speaking at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The dinner is opened up with some words from Liberty Arts board members, Leigh and Aubrey. We’re given some backdrop to Liberty Arts, the upcoming dinner and glass-blowing artist, Elijah Leed. Elijah gets the evening started working a molten ball of glass in the super-hot furnace (2,000 degrees). With the help of an assistant they are able to blow out and shape the glass into well-honed cup. And as the glass-blowing exhibition moves along, our dinner is being prepped by Chef Tyler and his team. They’ve got a lot of the ingredients in carbon steel pans which are able to withstand the intense heat in the furnace!

Glass blowing with Elijah at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.comChef Tyler prepping the meal at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I’ve managed to take a look at the menu from our master of ceremonies, Leigh and it looks like we will be having the following four-course meal:

Wild ramp naan with charred artichoke and Greek yogurt with caviar

Roasted scallop with parsnip puree and charred shishito pepper

Blackened beef short rib with acorn squash and red mole sauce

Poached seckel pear with goat cheese, almonds and dates with honey

Scallops and peppers for Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.comRamp naan with artichoke and caviar at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

I watch the culinary prep the dishes and they are quickly searing a lot of the ingredients in the furnace before quickly assembling the small plates for the guests. It’s a smaller dinner, maybe 30 people but we are all happily enjoying and waiting for our meal, seated at two sets of tables. Our first course comes out, a seared green naan with a spoonful of artichoke and dollop of caviar. It’s a fun, green appetizer with plenty of mouth-feel and texture. Chef Tyler is certainly getting pretty creative for tonight’s dinner!

Seared scallop with parsnip puree at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.comBlackened short rib and squash at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Dishes #2 and #3 are the highlights of Feast from the Furnace. The seared scallop is cooked just right and placed on top of a creamy and sweet, parsnip puree. A well-seared pepper plays off the entire dish offering up some spice and flavor along with the scallop. It’s a good looking dish with a lot of color and nice presentation. The short rib is more of a classic presentation that feels like autumn. Paired with the soft, seared squash, you get a lot of beefy chew along with the mellow, chocolate mole sauce. A fun mix of American and Mexican on one plate!

Pulled glass at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Elijah continues with his glass blowing demonstration and a heated, globe of glass is brought into the main exhibition area of Liberty Arts. He and his assistant, pull and the tug the glass until a long, cylindrical rope is pulled out across the room. It must be at least 25′ long and it’s left to cool on some wooden frames. It’s pretty incredible how malleable this molten glass is, but it obviously takes some serious skills to work in this medium!

Prepping dessert at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.comSeckel pear with goat cheese, dates and honey at Feast from the Furnace at Liberty Arts in Durham – nctriangledining.com

We head back to our table where we are served up dessert, a seared pear topped with goat cheese, dates and a small cookie. It’s a clean and tasty preparation for fruit and the dripped honey adds a bit of sweetness to enhance the plate, well done! As the tables clear, I say goodbye to my hosts and head out into the night, full and happy! It’s not every night that you’re treated to a feast for the palate and for the eyes. But Feast from the Furnace does just that, offering up a glimpse into the artistry and talents of the wonderful collective at Liberty Arts (Picture gallery below). If you’re a curious diner, check out their website and look for details on the upcoming Feast from the Furnace dinners. They have upcoming dates for January 19 and February 16. I promise you that they will be offering up some great culinary and artisanal skills for the evening. It’s an adventure that a Triangle foodie should experience at least once in their lifetime!

Over the past year, I’ve been pretty impressed with the food scene in Chapel Hill. Great additions like Hops Burger Bar, Cha House, MidiCi Italian Kitchen and more have really amped up the food scene in the area. And a recent media invite to the new Lula’s restaurant in Chapel Hill spiked my curiosity. I had known about the previous tenant in this space (Spanky’s) and had seen some social media on Lula’s eats so color me curious. And hungry! So I was excited to head out to the Thrill to try out Lula’s new brunch menu on a bright and cheery Sunday afternoon.

Stepping into Lula’s, you’ll find yourself in a classic looking restaurant full of polished woods and a black and white checkered floor. The space is bright and sunny, perfect for an afternoon meal along with plenty of seating. For today’s meal, we head upstairs to the private rooms which seats about 90 people. A table full of local social media influencers are waiting upstairs to get the meal started! Lula’s is part of the Chapel Hill restaurant group and helmed by Chef William D’Auvray, formerly from buku and Fins in Raleigh.

While Lula’s has been open since June 2018, their brunch menu was just launched in November. They’ve still got the great skillet chicken on the dinner menu but have also added classics such as chicken and waffles, eggs and sausage along with a biscuit benedict. Just be aware that Lula’s has a pretty short menu that’s really focused on fried chicken and Southern classics. Lula’s also offers up some great brunch cocktails with quirky names like the Breakfast Bramble (vodka, yogurt, fruit, blackberry jam, granola), Damn Fine Sunday (vodka, coffee liqeur, vanilla bean syrup) and more.

Over the course of two hours, we are treated to a barrage of wonderful Southern eats on Lula’s menu! First up are the wonderful biscuits at Lula’s. Now biscuits are a pretty simple food item but Lula’s elevates them to another level. Browned and bumpy, the biscuit here show off a crunchy, perfectly salted exterior along with a wonderfully fluffy interior. Paired with a thick and sticky sage honey, they could be a meal in themselves. But wisely, Lula’s uses them as a carb base for several of the other brunch dishes on the menu.

The next winner on the menu is Lula’s raised maple-bacon donuts with vanilla custard! Fresh out of the fryer, cake donuts are doused in syrup and served up with a round of baked custard and piece of crispy bacon. It hits all of your foodie senses with sweet and salty crunchiness along with the luscious custard. A fun play on the common donut and done very well. Counter-balancing the sweet of the donuts is the wonderful, layered strata! Thin slices of sweet potato and squash along with egg are stacked together in a tasty casserole and topped with cornbread and tomato. A great choice if you’re a vegetarian looking for something to eat. I found it quite satisfying even as a confessed meatatarian.

But of course, given Lula’s homage to fried chicken, we were all waiting on the main course! Served up in a cast iron skillet fit for a giant, a heaping pile of lovingly, browned Southern fried chicken is placed on a display table. Our group of influencers swarm about the chicken skillet but all I can tell you is that it’s very good! Soaked in a buttermilk wash and fried in a spice-laden coating, Lula’s does a great Southern fried chicken with plenty of taste and just enough salt. Although I admit, I wish I could have tried some of this cluck-cluck chicken in a dark meat, the breast still held up with good moist tenderness. We’re also served up a wonderful biscuit benedict topped with fried green tomato, country ham and hollandaise. Really nicely done, that biscuit steals the show again, offering up a great alternative to the classic English muffin.

Funeral cake at Lula’s in Chapel Hill, NC – nctriangledining.com

Our lovely brunch finishes up with Chef William’s classic dessert, funeral cake! Apparently given out as solace for grieving friends and neighbors, the funeral cake is stacked high and tall with four levels of what I think is Devil’s Food cake along with a light buttercream frosting. A wonderful finish and touch to this Southern brunch. As we thank our gracious hosts and pass along good-byes to each other, I’m just trying to figure out when I can get back for a repeat visit. While the menu at Lula’s is not that big, they are executing really well on what’s coming out of that kitchen. And what’s coming out of Lula’s kitchen is some wonderful, heart-warming Southern fare with some slight twists. Add in those wonderfully crafted cocktails and I suspect you’ll be a happy camper at Lula’s for brunch. I’m glad to have it here on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill because while Spanky’s may have been a Carolina legend, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t stand a chance against the great eats coming out of the kitchen now. So thank you Lula’s for a fantastic brunch and raising the bar for the Chapel Hill dining scene!

When it comes to sandwiches, what comes to your mind? Couple of slices of bread, some protein in the middle, maybe some cheese. It just doesn’t sound very exciting, does it? But thankfully we’ve got a new sandwich shop in town, Eastcut Sandwich shop in Durham. Located in the same building as the short-lived, Finch’s Durham, Eastcut Sandwich shop is a modern and hip take on a traditional up North sandwich shop. And it also adds a bit of gourmet surprise to the mix. After two visits to Eastcut I’ve got a pretty good feel for what they’re doing, most of which is good but there is some room for improvement!

Heading over to Eastcut Sandwich shop, you may be surprised at its location. Sitting in what seems to be a mostly residential neighborhood, you’ll quickly spy a narrow driveway leading to Eastcut’s parking lot and building. While the lot in front has limited spaces, there’s plenty of room in back for your vehicle! Head on over to the building and you’ll find a large wrap-around patio but the side doors are not usable as an entrance. Enter up front and you’ll find yourself in the main dining room which has a bit of a Western feel with the knotted pine floor planks and wood slat separator. Eastcut is counter order, table service and the line forms to the left!

The menu at Eastcut Sandwich bar is focused on guess what?! You got it, hearty sandwiches either cold or hot along with some salads and burgers. What’s nice is that at Eastcut you can also grab a beer, cocktail or adult slushie with your meal so they’re trying to traverse the lunch and dinner periods with some alcoholic bevvies. There’s also a daily specials board and it looks like they like to get a bit creative here. Sandwiches are sold bare here on round buns or hero rolls. You’ll have to add a side (curly fries, sweet potato tots, salad, potato salad) to make it a meal. With most sandwiches between $6 to $15, you can eat pretty affordably here! Eastcut Sandwich Bar also has an after dark and brunch menu for Sundays which I have yet to try.

Given that I’m not much of a cold sandwich fan, my eyes settle on the chicken parm and cheesesteak offerings. But after a mental coin-flip, chicken parmigiana it is! Eastcut does a very nice chicken parmigiana sandwich which is served up on a beautiful but smallish, seeded roll. The chicken cutlet is very well browned and nicely assembled with great cheese and sauce coverage. It’s a delicious sammich but let’s face it, it’s hard to go wrong with chicken parm. On a second visit I get to try their chicken alla vodka sandwich on special. It’s similar to a chicken parm but goes with a creamier alla vodka sauce, ham and smoked gouda on top. It’s a hit for me, albeit a bit messy! And I actually like the form factor of the Eastcut sandwich on a standard roll vs. a sub roll, you seem to get a bit more with the smaller roll.

While the overall menu is pretty standard for sandwiches, one thing I noticed is Eastcut Sandwich Bar’s creativity around the specials. The peanut satay wings I tried on special were a very unique rendition of a Thai-style wing with lots of rich, peanut-ty flavor. Cooked confit style (double cooked in oil, once at lower temp and then finished in hotter oil), the wings at Eastcut fall off the bone with a lot of tender chicken meat. This confit preparation takes a bit of work and isn’t something I’ve seen a lot of in the area, so kudos to Eastcut Sandwich Bar for the effort.

Service at Eastcut Sandwich Bar is solid but they are definitely training up their staff so be patient. There’s a new covered patio which has recently opened up so the owners here have some ambition with the seating! Overall I think you’ll be pleased by the sandwiches at Eastcut Sandwich Bar. They’re prepared with attention and a bit of creativity although the final results are a bit inconsistent. But given how recently they’ve opened, I’m hoping that Eastcut Sandwich Bar will get settled in across all aspects of its service and menu. Either way, if you live in the hood, don’t miss out on this little gem and that great patio. With a delicious sandwich and beer in hand, I can’t imagine you wouldn’t be happy and pleased…